Post#1376 » by CanadaB-Ball » Tue Aug 13, 2013 12:06 am
How about this?
Toronto
In: Gordon, Schroeder
Out: Gay, Ross, Buycks, 2016 NYK first-rounder, Option to switch 2016/2017 (whichever they prefer) first-rounder (unprotected), 2 second-round picks
Charlotte
In: Gay, Ross, 2016 NYK first-rounder, 2014 Atlanta first-rounder (top-10 protected), 2 second-round picks
Out: Gordon, MKG
Atlanta
In: MKG, Buycks, 2016 or '17 option to switch first-round picks (unprotected),
Out: Schroeder, 2014 first-round pick (top-10 protected)
Toronto
This is a lot to give up. Admittedly, I think it may be too much. I swapped out Gray for Buycks since Atlanta would need a back-up point-guard more than they would need a back-up centre. I threw in an unprotected option to switch first-rounders in 2016 or '17 to offer additional incentive for Atlanta to part with their 2014 first-rounder. I also added an additional second-rounder to make the deal more enticing for Charlotte. When I look at all that we're giving up, I believe it may be too much, but I'm not sure how I can appease all the teams without parting with what is being parted with. Maybe take out the NYK first-rounder or put top-3/5 protection on the pick-swap? Feel free to voice your opinions.
As for why Toronto may do this; they receive a great point-guard prospect in Schroeder, who would hopefully develop into the perfect (great play-maker, who can make open threes and play fantastic defence) starting point-guard for this team in the future. He may not project to be a game-changer (in the sense that he can put up 20 points a night), but he does project to be a great facilitator and defender. This also clears up some future cap-space, and increases our chances at a top-5 pick.
Charlotte
I know some people don't think Charlotte would part with MKG, but I think this is a great deal for them. It allows them to compete now with Gay, (to a degree) Ross and the pieces they already have in place. It also gives them a number of pieces that can be a big part of their future (Ross, and the myriad of picks). This would potentially (depending on the results of the teams) give Charlotte 3 (or four if Charlotte doesn't do well) first-round picks next year, as well as an additional 2016 first-rounder and two second-round picks. They can use these picks to trade up in the draft, or they could keep them and add a number of quality future depth. They could also go the 'James Harden-like' trade route.
Atlanta
Atlanta receives the SF of their future (something they desperately need). Schroeder looks like a good prospect, but he's not enough to receive MKG straight up, so they add a protected (which ensures they won't miss out on the absolute cream of the crop if their season turns into a disaster) first-round pick. They also receive the option to switch first-round picks with Toronto in either 2016 or '17 (their choice), and a back-up point-guard to replace the minutes Schroeder was going to give them. I think this is a good deal for Atlanta (could potentially be incredible if Toronto happens to be terrible in 2016 or '17).
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I also think these two deals would supplement the above deal.
Trade 1
Toronto
In: Perkins, Lamb, 2014 OKC first-rounder (top-20 protected)
Out: Amir
OKC
In: Amir
Out: Perkins, Lamb, 2014 first-rounder (top-20 protected)
Toronto
Toronto receives two pieces that should be a part of their future (Lamb and the first-rounder), but also have to take on Perkins awful contract. While Perkins does suck, he's okay defensively, so he may be a positive influence on the growth of Jonas in that are of the game (probably a stretch, I know). Toronto does this deal to get Lamb and the first-rounder, while also increasing their chances at getting a top-5 pick.
OKC
Amir is perfect for OKC. He's not a ball dominant player (which is good when you're playing with Westbrook, Durant and Ibaka), and Ibaka and Amir could be a great defensive front-court (which will help in the playoffs). Amir can also contribute offensively (with great efficiency), grab a good deal of rebounds, facilitate the ball reasonably well and is an absolute warrior (which will also come in handy in the playoffs). He's also on a very good deal, which is certainly enticing to a small market like OKC. They also get rid of Perkins' contract. I was going to make it Dallas' pick, but I believe it becomes unprotected at some point, so I didn't feel (if true) that would be fair for OKC.
Trade 2
Toronto
In: Adetokunbo or a 2014 lottery protected first-round pick
Out: Lowry
Milwaukee
In: Lowry
Out: Adetokunbo or 2014 first-rounder
Toronto
They receive a future piece (either the pick or Adetokunbo) and further increase their chances at a top-5 pick.
Houston
They're apparently still interested in competing , in which case Lowry would definitely help them do so. They sacrifice a piece of their future (either Adetokunbo or the pick, whichever they prefer), for a (greatly improved) chance to make the playoffs.
If it turns out Milwaukee isn't interested in competing, Toronto could look to Houston (where Lowry would be a perfect fit) as a team that would trade future pieces to improve their team's present outlook that could use a point-guard like Lowry.
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These trades would give the Raptors this roster next year:
Augustin/Schroeder
DeRozan/Lamb/Gordon
Fields/Daye/Adetokunbo
Hansbrough/Acy/Udoh
Valanciunas/Perkins/Gray
And potentially this roster the following year:
Augustin/Schroeder/FA or late first-rounder
DeRozan/Lamb
Top-5 pick or FA or Fields/Adetokunbo/DeRozan
Top-5 pick or FA or Hansbrough/Hansbrough or Acy
Valanciunas/Perkins/FA or late first-rounder
Just for fun, imagine a line-up like this for 2014/2015:
Augustin/Schroeder
DeRozan/Lamb
Wiggins/Adetokunbo/Fields
Favors or another FA/Hansbrough/Acy
Valanciunas/Perkins/Patric Young (2014 late first-rounder)
The other option is to save the cap space that would be spent on Favors or another free-agent, and try and attract a big free-agent like Durant in 2016 (just so everyone knows, he's a free-agent after the 2015/16 season). This scenario would likely also result in another top-10 pick in 2015 (even the roster above is probably bad enough for a lottery pick for one more year) to add another quality piece. That team would then be ready to make a run at the playoffs in 2015/16 and would be considered an up-and-coming team with the cap space to sign a max player (like Durant).
Just take a moment to imagine this line-up in 2016/17:
Schroeder/Tyus Jones (top-10 2015 pick)
Lamb/DeRozan
Wiggins/Adetokunbo/DeRozan
Durant/FA (defense-first type)/Acy
Valanciunas/Young
That is just beyond incredible. Obviously not a realistic scenario (a lot of things would have to go right), but the point is that tanking offers this kind of potential reward; the type of reward that the Raptors current core can't offer.
Heck, even this future line-up (a little more realistic) looks incredible:
Schroeder/2015 draft pick
Lamb/DeRozan
Wiggins/Adetokunbo/DeRozan
Favors/Adetokunbo/Acy
Valanciunas/Young
You could replace Wiggins with Jabari and it still looks incredible. You could also have Randle, Exum, Gordon etc. in there (obviously adjusting the free-agent signings and trades to make it all fit together, which wouldn't be difficult since we'd have both the assets and cap-space to do so in this scenario) and it would still look fantastic.
Please don't think this is what I expect the team to look like in three years, I just thought it would be cool to look at potential scenarios, even the one's that aren't overly realistic. Essentially my point is that, this core simply doesn't offer the potential that rebuilding does in almost any 'tanking' scenario.
